Greatest Goalies 1965-1984 - By Moses

Today is the World Junior Finals between Canada and Russia. To commemorate the game of Hockey I've written an article comparing the greatest Goalies of the game from 1965-1984.

Ken Dryden vs Vladislav Tretiak vs Bernie Parent vs Tony Esposito vs Rogatien Vachon

a) Ken Dryden 1970/71-1978/79 258 Wins 57 Losses 74 Ties 2.24 G.A.A 46 Shutouts (7 full years played, 6-0 in his first year) 1970/71 Conn Smythe Trophy, 1971/72 Calder Trophy, 5 Vezina's. Won a total of five Stanley Cups.
b) Vladislav Tretiak 1967/68-1983/84 3 years reported of play in the Soviet League, although it is recognized that Tretiak had a 2.35 G.A.A in eighteen years with 482 GP in the Soviet League. In the three full years reported, Tretiak was an unbelievable 81 Wins 7 Losses 4 Ties and had a G.AA of under 1.50.
c) Bernie Parent 1965/66-1978/79 Won back to back Stanley Cups, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy both years of 1973/74 and 1974/75. Parent had a 2.55 lifetime G.A.A and had 54 Shutouts, 271 Wins, and won two Vezina Trophies over his storied career.
d) Tony Esposito 1968/69-1983/84 423 Wins 306 Losses 151 Ties 2.92 G.A.A 76 Shutouts. Won the Calder Trophy in 1969/1970 and three Vezina Trophies. Started his career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1968/69 and when he was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks in the off-season he performed spectacuarly recording an unbelievable 15 Shutouts winning his first Vezina the following year.
e) Rogie Vachon 1966/67-1981/82 351 Wins 291 Losses 127 Ties 2.99 G.A.A 51 Shutouts 1967/68 Vezina Trophy 2 Stanley Cups 1976 Team Canada MVP. Had he not played in Los Angeles and in more of a Hockey Market Vachon probably would have had greater success.

1. Ken Dryden
2. Vladislav Tretiak
3. Bernie Parent
4. Tony Esposito
5. Rogatien Vachon

From 1965-1984 there were several great Goalies aside from the aforementioned five men. Jacques Plante, Glenn Hall, Terry Sawchuck, and Johnny Bower all played in the NHL in 1965. Likewise, there were great Goaltenders aside from the aforementioned 5 men in 1984, including Billy Smith, Grant Fuhr, and Mike Vernon. However, my picks for the gretest Goalies 1965-1984 come down to these five men. As concluded I've written a Goalie comparison of Ken Dryden and Vladislav Tretiak, as their legendary status dictates. Ironically it was these two men that were Goalies for their Nations in the original 1972 Summit Series that advented the Canada Cups to follow, and the globalization of the game of Hockey.

The Goalie I rated the highest played in the shortest period between these years. Ken Dryden was a highly touted Goalie with the Montreal Canadiens, coming from a storied College career at Cornell. Two years before he joined the 'big club' the Canadiens showcased a Goalie tandom of Rogatien Vachon and Tony Esposito. In 1970/71 the Canadiens brought up Dryden, and all he did was go 6-0 down the stretch and was awarded the starting job for the playoffs. In the post-season, Dryden led Montreal to the prized Stanley Cup and was duly named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy. The next year Ken Dryden took home the Calder Trophy, and between 1976-1979 he guided the Canadiens to four consecutive Stanley Cups. Ken Dryden was a true class act and at 6 foot 4 inches tall, he was imposing to the opponents he faced as there wasn't much mesh they could twine with him in the net. Also keep in mind that it was Dryden who was the go-to guy in the 1972 Summit Series, when Team Canada's backs were against the wall needing three wins on Soviet soil. Dryden defeated legendary Goalie Vladislav Tretiak as their Nations collided. In his first seven full years Ken Dryden won an incredible 5 Stanley Cups and 5 Vezina Trophies. It is for reasons like this that I place Ken Dryden as the top Goaltender in the game of Hockey from 1965-1984.
It is difficult to not place Vladislav Tretiak as the number one guy in this comparison. Tretiak was a true legend. He was instrumental and indirectly/directly responsible for Soviet players coming to play in the NHL, as it was Tretiak's aura that all Hockey fans felt when watching him play. He earned the respect of the NHL'ers that he played against in the 1972 Summit Series and Canada Cup Tournaments.
In his eighteen years playing in the Soviet League he had a 2.35 G.A.A in 482 GP. Vladislav Tretiak was the starting Goalie for the U.S.S.R Red Army for years, leading them to a Canada Cup win in 1981/1982. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth to know that Tretiak never played a game in the NHL. He is truly deserving of hoisting the prized Stanley Cup.